Sea boot



Dec. 22, 1/931/l A. L. HowARTH SEA`BOOT l Filed MaICh 29 1930 INVENTO R Arnold [..Howavc h,

' -AT TORNEY Patented Dec. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES ARNOLD LOUIS HOWARTH, F SOUTH BENFLEET, ENGLAND SEA. BOOT Application led March 29, 1930, Serial No.

This invention relates to sea boots, that is to heavy boots such as are worn on boar-d ship and elsewhere as a protection against the sea and weather.

It is well known that if a man falls overboard when wearing ordinary sea boots he is almost certain to be dragged down by the weight of the boots in a very short time, and the object of the present invention is to obvilo ate this danger.

' The invention consists in providing in or on the boots bodies of bouyant sponge rubber whose volume is so adjusted in relation to the weight and displacement of the boots that the boots will have practically no weight when submerged. By buoyant sponge rubber is meant that form of rubber which, in the course of manufacture, has been formed with irregularly disposed air-containing cells distributed throughout the mass with webs extending in various directions between and around such cells.

In carrying the invention into effect according to the preferred form the boot is provided with a sock or insole of sponge rubber which is not only buoyant, but also serves to increase the comfort of the wearer owing to its resilient qualities.

This buoyant sock or insole will usually not be sufficient to adjust the displacement of the boot so as to obtain the effect indicated above and is therefore preferably supplemented by buoyant sponge rubber bodies applied to the leg part of the boot. These bodies may be applied as linings to the leg part of the boot or they may consist of rings or bands applied either externally or internally. In a modication the leg part of the boot may be made wholly or in part of buoyant sponge rubber.

In the accompanying drawing the only ligure is a sectional view of a sea boot provided with a buoyant sock or insole 1 and two buoyant bodies 2 and 3 in the form of rings or bands applied to the inside of the boot, the

440,041, and in 'Great Britain April 8, 1929.

body 2 being located at the ankle part, whilst l A wearer is submerged, the buoyancy of the sponge rubber being relied upon entirely to balance the weight of the boot when submerged. In this Way the displacement of the boot can be made to balance its weight almost exactly so that the wearers feet will neither be dragged down nor forced upwards. He will therefore be able to swim and his chances of keeping afloat will be much greater than they would be if he were wearing ordinary heavy sea boots.

It is to be understood that foam rubber, expanded rubber, or like buoyant material may be used in place of sponge rubber. The buoyant body or bodies applied to each boot may be manufactured as an integral part of the bootor may be made so as to be removable.

I claim zl. Sea boots provided with buoyant bodies whose volume is so adjusted in relation to the weight and displacement of the boots that the boots will have substantially no weight when submerged.

2. Sea boots according to claim 1 wherein the buoyant bodies are applied as socks or insoles of sponge rubber or the like buoyant material. i i

3. Sea boots having buoyant bodies applied to the leg portions thereof, the volume of said buoyant bodies being so proportioned to the weight and displacement of the boots as to substantially balance the weight of the boots when submerged.

4. SeaV boots according to claim 3 wherein the buoyant bodies applied to the leg part of the boot consist of rings or bands applied thereto.

5. Sea boots according to ola-iin 8 wherein the leg part of the boot is made wholly or in part of buoyant sponge rubber, or equivalent material. Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ARNOLD Louis HOWART'H. 

